Clemens isn't going to New York or Boston (1 Viewer)

[Colin Dowling]

You heard is here (sort of) first. He's with the team in Spring Training, throwing batting practice. His son (who isn't very good) may be granted a September call up. Personal services contract. Etc. etc. Deal with it haters.

Also...

Hunter Pence is gross. He'll start the year here in Round Rock, but when Chris Burke gets hurt by Memorial Day, he'll be up playing center for good.

Biggio apparently is going to mostly play at home. Loretta is the platoon until Big gets 3k hits, then Loretta will be playing more.

Ensberg is being shopped for a LHP.

The catching situation is a disaster. Good NL teams have 8 deep lineups. The Astros is 6 deep since Everett and Ausmus can't hit. They are looking for ANYTHING that can help offensively in thsoe spots.

Once again, Hunter Pence is gross. The fact that Jason Lane and Luke Scott are going to have roster spots over him stinks. Dude is batting about .600 in Spring Training. THe team said, "that's great, but we need to see he can hit good pitching." The next day he went 2-2 against Glavine including a 10,000 foot home run. Get this guy to Houston ASAP.

 

[Jules Winnfield]

So he's staying in Houston?

Do you have enough enhancements to get him through the year?

 

[Polecat]

Pence is actually hitting .737 as of yesterday.

 

[Colin Dowling]

So he's staying in Houston?Do you have enough enhancements to get him through the year?

Yes/ It's been arranged.

 

[tommyGunZ]

Heard he wants 4M per month. WOW.

 

[Colin Dowling]

Heard he wants 4M per month. WOW.

Did you see him pitch last year? 4M a month is a STEAL considering Gil Meche is going to get half that for the next 5 years.

 

[Polecat]

IF Roger pitches this year, it'll be after the all-star break, and it'll be with the Astros. I personally think he's done.

 

[Polecat]

Heard he wants 4M per month. WOW.

Did you see him pitch last year? 4M a month is a STEAL considering Gil Meche is going to get half that for the next 5 years.

The money is no object. Roger fills the house whenever/wherever he pitches. He'll only come back if the Astros are in the thick of the pennant chase after the all-star break.

 

[tommyGunZ]

Heard he wants 4M per month. WOW.

Did you see him pitch last year? 4M a month is a STEAL considering Gil Meche is going to get half that for the next 5 years.

Agreed - the Meche signing is exhibit A for baseball's need for a salary cap.

 

[Fear & Loathing]

Heard he wants 4M per month. WOW.

Did you see him pitch last year? 4M a month is a STEAL considering Gil Meche is going to get half that for the next 5 years.

Agreed - the Meche signing is exhibit A for baseball's need for a salary cap.

Or smarter management...Two years ago everybody was crying poor, now they're giving Meche & Ted Lilly $10M+/per year for 4-5 years guaranteed.

There's no cure for stupid management. Not even a salary cap.

 

[Wrigley]

You heard is here (sort of) first. He's with the team in Spring Training, throwing batting practice. His son (who isn't very good) may be granted a September call up. Personal services contract. Etc. etc. Deal with it haters.Also...Hunter Pence is gross. He'll start the year here in Round Rock, but when Chris Burke gets hurt by Memorial Day, he'll be up playing center for good.Biggio apparently is going to mostly play at home. Loretta is the platoon until Big gets 3k hits, then Loretta will be playing more.Ensberg is being shopped for a LHP. The catching situation is a disaster. Good NL teams have 8 deep lineups. The Astros is 6 deep since Everett and Ausmus can't hit. They are looking for ANYTHING that can help offensively in thsoe spots.Once again, Hunter Pence is gross. The fact that Jason Lane and Luke Scott are going to have roster spots over him stinks. Dude is batting about .600 in Spring Training. THe team said, "that's great, but we need to see he can hit good pitching." The next day he went 2-2 against Glavine including a 10,000 foot home run. Get this guy to Houston ASAP.

One question: How does this prove he's not going somewhere else?

 

[MrPhoenix]

Ensberg is being shopped for a LHP.

If Ensberg leaves, who's the 3B? Do you guys still have Mike Lamb?

 

[Bob Sacamano]

Heard he wants 4M per month. WOW.

Did you see him pitch last year? 4M a month is a STEAL considering Gil Meche is going to get half that for the next 5 years.

The money is no object. Roger fills the house whenever/wherever he pitches. He'll only come back if the Astros are in the thick of the pennant chase after the all-star break.

So you're saying he's not coming back.

 

[Colin Dowling]

Ensberg is being shopped for a LHP.

If Ensberg leaves, who's the 3B? Do you guys still have Mike Lamb?

Lamb and Eric Bruntlett, when needed.

 

[MrPhoenix]

Ensberg is being shopped for a LHP.

If Ensberg leaves, who's the 3B? Do you guys still have Mike Lamb?

Lamb and Eric Bruntlett, when needed.

Gotcha.

 

[Colin Dowling]

You heard is here (sort of) first. He's with the team in Spring Training, throwing batting practice. His son (who isn't very good) may be granted a September call up. Personal services contract. Etc. etc. Deal with it haters.

One question: How does this prove he's not going somewhere else?

It's more of a "if it looks like a fish and acts like a fish, chances are it's a fish" statement. I have tired of reading continual blurbs from the New York and Boston press with regard to Clemens. I realize those teams and fans have little control over what is written, but I, for one, am sick of ESPN et al treating the Red Sox and Yankees like the center of the baseball universe. So, my Astros Spring Training report started off with my comments on Clemens because everything that is actually taking place, and everything I've heard from my Astros FO buddy, is saying, "if he plays, it will be for the AStros."

 

[miphin]

You heard is here (sort of) first. He's with the team in Spring Training, throwing batting practice. His son (who isn't very good) may be granted a September call up. Personal services contract. Etc. etc. Deal with it haters.

Also...

Hunter Pence is gross. He'll start the year here in Round Rock, but when Chris Burke gets hurt by Memorial Day, he'll be up playing center for good.

Biggio apparently is going to mostly play at home. Loretta is the platoon until Big gets 3k hits, then Loretta will be playing more.

Ensberg is being shopped for a LHP.

The catching situation is a disaster. Good NL teams have 8 deep lineups. The Astros is 6 deep since Everett and Ausmus can't hit. They are looking for ANYTHING that can help offensively in thsoe spots.

Once again, Hunter Pence is gross. The fact that Jason Lane and Luke Scott are going to have roster spots over him stinks. Dude is batting about .600 in Spring Training. THe team said, "that's great, but we need to see he can hit good pitching." The next day he went 2-2 against Glavine including a 10,000 foot home run. Get this guy to Houston ASAP.

The reason Scott and Lane are going to be on the roster, is because Astros managment wants to have Pence play everyday and not platoon in the 'Stros outfield. I am not sure of Scott's contract status but I think that with Lane if he is not on the big league roster they must release him as he does not have a minor league deal in place. All that being said, if need be they need to cut loose Lane & Scott (or at least trade them a month's supply of Charmin and Southwest Airline's Peanuts) if that's the only way to get Pence in the lineup.

 

[David Yudkin]

So, my Astros Spring Training report started off with my comments on Clemens because everything that is actually taking place, and everything I've heard from my Astros FO buddy, is saying, "if he plays, it will be for the AStros."

I obvioulsy can't speak for everyone, but here in Boston the way things have been reported lately (at least from what I've seen:"Retires" is the most likely option followed closely by "plays for Houston." Then big gap . . . "Plays for the Yankess" and another big gap . . . then "plays for Boston. " Around here they have pretty much come to grips that Clemens will not be in a Red Sox uniform (and perhaps as important not in pinstripes either). So it works out to 50%/40%/10%/0% across that spectrum.

 

[Colin Dowling]

Went to the game last night here in Round Rock where the Astros had come to play the Express (AAA). Some notes...

1. Word on the street is that Clemens thing is going to be a money play. Highest bidder will get the goods but the price is going way up....most baseball folks will be shocked if he doesn't play and the 4 million a month is the LOW side.

2. Carlos Lee looks fantastic. His weight is good. Dude swings hard and has underrated speed, which was on display for a stolen base.

3. HIGHLIGHT OF THE NIGHT: So, I'm talking to my friend who works for the team about Hunter Pence and why guys like Luke Scott and Jason Lane are keeping him in the minors. The team-speak is that Pence simply isn't ready and took advantage of Spring Training (batted .571, highest in all of Spring Training for guys with 28 or more at bats) while the roster guys like Lane and Scott were simply "getting in condition for the full season." The Astros are saying that Pence simply "isn't ready" to be in the majors.

So, in comes Brad Lidge in the 5th or 6th inning (can't remember ) and he's throwing well. Pence comes up, fastball delivered, baseball lands 420 feet away at the base of the scoreboard in left-center. I've only seen one other ball hit that hard off Lidge, if you know what I mean. So, as is tradition in the minors, batting helmets come out of the dugout to get passed through the stands so people can drop in a dollar for the guy who hit the homerun. It was a sea of greenbacks. Pence probably made close to a grand off of that hit, no lie.

I quickly SMS'd my friend (who was back in the press box) with a note of: "Not ready? You sure about that?" Reply: "You're the 3rd person to ask me that in the last minute."

Good times. He's going to be a good one. The Astros are going to surprise people in the Central this year.

 

[Battles]

Went to the game last night here in Round Rock where the Astros had come to play the Express (AAA). Some notes...1. Word on the street is that Clemens thing is going to be a money play. Highest bidder will get the goods but the price is going way up....most baseball folks will be shocked if he doesn't play and the 4 million a month is the LOW side.2. Carlos Lee looks fantastic. His weight is good. Dude swings hard and has underrated speed, which was on display for a stolen base.3. HIGHLIGHT OF THE NIGHT: So, I'm talking to my friend who works for the team about Hunter Pence and why guys like Luke Scott and Jason Lane are keeping him in the minors. The team-speak is that Pence simply isn't ready and took advantage of Spring Training (batted .571, highest in all of Spring Training for guys with 28 or more at bats) while the roster guys like Lane and Scott were simply "getting in condition for the full season." The Astros are saying that Pence simply "isn't ready" to be in the majors.So, in comes Brad Lidge in the 5th or 6th inning (can't remember ) and he's throwing well. Pence comes up, fastball delivered, baseball lands 420 feet away at the base of the scoreboard in left-center. I've only seen one other ball hit that hard off Lidge, if you know what I mean. So, as is tradition in the minors, batting helmets come out of the dugout to get passed through the stands so people can drop in a dollar for the guy who hit the homerun. It was a sea of greenbacks. Pence probably made close to a grand off of that hit, no lie. I quickly SMS'd my friend (who was back in the press box) with a note of: "Not ready? You sure about that?" Reply: "You're the 3rd person to ask me that in the last minute." Good times. He's going to be a good one. The Astros are going to surprise people in the Central this year.

I was at the game as well. Sat behind the RRE dugout. If you weren't too you might have seen a player throw a ball my way and I handed it to a little kid. Pence's shot was a beaut. Looks like it's going to be hard to keep him at RR if he puts in a couple good months.

 

[Colin Dowling]

Went to the game last night here in Round Rock where the Astros had come to play the Express (AAA). Some notes...1. Word on the street is that Clemens thing is going to be a money play. Highest bidder will get the goods but the price is going way up....most baseball folks will be shocked if he doesn't play and the 4 million a month is the LOW side.2. Carlos Lee looks fantastic. His weight is good. Dude swings hard and has underrated speed, which was on display for a stolen base.3. HIGHLIGHT OF THE NIGHT: So, I'm talking to my friend who works for the team about Hunter Pence and why guys like Luke Scott and Jason Lane are keeping him in the minors. The team-speak is that Pence simply isn't ready and took advantage of Spring Training (batted .571, highest in all of Spring Training for guys with 28 or more at bats) while the roster guys like Lane and Scott were simply "getting in condition for the full season." The Astros are saying that Pence simply "isn't ready" to be in the majors.So, in comes Brad Lidge in the 5th or 6th inning (can't remember ) and he's throwing well. Pence comes up, fastball delivered, baseball lands 420 feet away at the base of the scoreboard in left-center. I've only seen one other ball hit that hard off Lidge, if you know what I mean. So, as is tradition in the minors, batting helmets come out of the dugout to get passed through the stands so people can drop in a dollar for the guy who hit the homerun. It was a sea of greenbacks. Pence probably made close to a grand off of that hit, no lie. I quickly SMS'd my friend (who was back in the press box) with a note of: "Not ready? You sure about that?" Reply: "You're the 3rd person to ask me that in the last minute." Good times. He's going to be a good one. The Astros are going to surprise people in the Central this year.

I was at the game as well. Sat behind the RRE dugout. If you weren't too you might have seen a player throw a ball my way and I handed it to a little kid. Pence's shot was a beaut. Looks like it's going to be hard to keep him at RR if he puts in a couple good months.

How funny - I actually remember the ball going in to the stands behind their dugout, although I wasn't paying attention to who caught it. I was behind the plate, a little to the 1B side.

 

[posty]

Clemens to decide by the end of May...

Per Rotoworld...

Roger Clemens' agent reiterated Friday that Clemens will make his decision regarding where to play this season "by the end of May."

"Roger has been working out and feels good," agent Randy Hendricks wrote in an e-mail. "But he has yet to ramp up his workouts, the kind where he tortures himself. I have been in communication with all three teams and all three are, of course, interested."